Public Safety

RICHMOND — Virginians are warned to protect their personal identity information following a spate of bogus calls to Medicare beneficiaries across the commonwealth in which callers threaten to terminate coverage or cut off Social Security checks if recipients refuse to provide requested information.

Galax police arrested Anthony Gregg McLaurin, 18, of Galax, on Jan. 17 after an incident at Macado's that evening.
According to a police report, Sgt. Mark Burnett and Officer Kevin Hall responded to a burglar alarm at Macado's restaurant at 10 p.m. When they reached the building, they caught sight of a man fleeing from the restaurant on foot.
After a three-block pursuit, they arrested McLaurin and charged him with burglary and destruction of property.
McLaurin was released and is scheduled to appear in the Galax General District Court.

By SHAINA STOCKTON
Staff
Members of the Galax City Council unanimously approved a plan for a part-time resource officer at Galax Elementary School at their meeting on Jan. 14.
The proposal was presented by Police Chief Rick Clark, who expressed his desire to increase school security to better protect the children of the community.
“I see an opportunity to enhance the security [at the elementary school],” said Clark.

DUBLIN — An 84-year-old Hillsville woman has died after a Monday crash on Route 100 in Pulaski County, according to the Dublin Police Department.
Police say that Velma Bowman Horton, driving a 2001 Buick, pulled into the path of a 1999 Dodge truck, driven by Charles Lucas of Radford. The accident happened at the intersection of Route 100 and Fourth Street at about 4:15 p.m. Monday.

The North Carolina Route 89 curve improvement project near North Carolina 18 between Low Gap and the Virginia state line is underway.
The road will be reduced to one lane for most of the project, so motorists should be prepared for some delays depending on the traffic volume.
Traffic will be maintained with the use of flaggers and a pilot vehicle that will lead motorists through the work zone between the flagging stations, the North Carolina Department of Transportation said. Temporary traffic signals may be used at a later date if needed.

Galax Police Officer A.M. Burnett is investigating a breaking and entering and larceny that occurred at Minks Auto Sales on Glendale Road on January 12.
The department requests that those who have any information relevant to this investigation call 236-8101 or text "Galax" followed by any information to TIP411(847411)

ROANOKE — The chances of identifying the remains of an unknown subject found near Timber Road in Cana on April 1, 2012, hover around 10 percent, the assistant chief medical examiner for Virginia’s Western District said at a press conference Wednesday.
The remains were found by a person picking up trash along the road.
The investigation did not uncover the subject’s identity, so the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office sent the remains to the medical examiner’s office for help.